Managing Panic

Panic: The sudden and often unpredictable onset of intense, sometimes blinding, fearfulness or terror; usually associated with feelings of impending doom. When a diver experiences panic underwater, it creates a dangerous situation, not just for the diver experiencing the panic, but for those endeavouring to help them.

How to spot a diver in distress

Active panic is often easy to identify with the diver racing towards the surface, throwing away their regulator and ripping off their mask.

Other signs include:

Fixed stare with eyes bulging

Rapid, shallow, inefficient breathing

Flailing with the arms and legs (“climbing a ladder” in appearance)

Passive panic is harder to spot and the diver can often just freeze and become unable to move or respond in any way.

This passive panic can be just as dangerous to a diver as an active panic as they may sink if they are negatively buoyant and may drop to depths where it is unsafe to rescue them.

Passive panic can very suddenly turn to active – often when the diver is approached by a rescuer at this stage the diver may grab for the rescuer’s regulator, dislodge their mask or attempt to “climb” the rescuer to get to the surface.

What to Do to Help Manage Panic in a Diver

The best way to manage panic is to prevent it. Try to eliminate triggers before they occur.

Is your buddy comfortable with the dive you are about to make?

Is he talking too much… or too little?

Is he behaving erratically underwater?

Is all his equipment in good condition – no leaking masks or almost broken fin straps

Observe for unusual behaviours during the dive

Once panic occurs the first concern is your own safety – do not put yourself in danger to try and help another. One person in trouble is easier to manage than two.